7.7C - Political Spheres of Influence
Political spheres of influence can be contested, leading to tensions over territory and physical resources (South and East China Seas) and in some cases resulting in open conflict (Western Russia/Eastern Europe) with implications for people and physical environments.
A sphere of influence is an area or territory beyond a country's national borders, over which it feels it should have power but without having any formal authority there. It is a useful concept in terms of tensions between superpowers and emerging powers over territory and physical resources.
Eastern Europe
Eastern European countries joining the EU, and moves by Georgia and Ukraine to do so, angered Russia, leading to the Russian invasions of parts of Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014, as well as a build up of NATO armed forces in the Baltic States,
Middle East and Central Asia
Since 2011, Russia has been an active ally of Syria, helping the Syrian government fight rebel forces and ISIS. Russia supports Iran, an enemy of US allies Israel and Saudi Arabia. Russia's increasing involvement in the Middle East makes an already difficult region even more complex.
East China Sea
Strained relations between North Korea (a Chinese ally) and South Korea (a US ally) as North Korea has become a nuclear power. China sees South Korea and Japan (US allies) as economic competitors. All countries have ongoing disputes over islands in the sea.
South China Sea
Numerous disputed islands, claimed by China and US allies the Philippines and Taiwan. China has aggressively pursued a policy of island settlement and artificial island building - then adding military facilities.
The South China Sea is a very tense region. China's 'Nine-Dash Line' and 'First and Second Island Chain' policies force it to try and control a large area of ocean south and east of China. The USA has considered this a sphere of influence since the Second World War.
Central America
China has shown increasing interest in funding alternative routes to the Panama Canal between the Atlantic and Pacific. This is an area of traditional US hegemony.
The situations in Ukraine, Georgia and Syria have created refugee crises - in Syria on a huge scale from 2011 to 2017. This shows there are implications for people of contested spheres.